Curette kit



Aug. 15, 1950 w. F. ROSENBERG CURETTE KIT Filed Jan. 7, 1948 III/I 4 1 273.

JNVENTOR. Mm FAPfiJf/ZZEW Patented Aug. 15, 1950 v CURETTE KIT 7 William F. Rosenberg, chitin), n1.

Application January 7, 1943, Serial N 0. 1,027

My invention relates to first aid and includes among its objects and advantages an instrument and accessories for removing foreign objects from i In the accompanying drawings,

4Claiins. (o1. atc+6az Figure l is alongitudinal section of a kit according to the invention; and

Figure 2 is a perspective of 'the holder for the curette loop.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration the entire kit is housed in a holder closely' similar to the body of a fountain pen.

The barrel IE] is of plastic and conventionally threaded at E2 to engage the threads of the cap l4 carrying the conventional clip l6 for carrying the device in a pocket. The curette proper is mounted in the upper end of the barrel and comprises an operative loop ill of nylon, catgut, horse hair, linen thread, etc. The loop is mounted and held for use in a holder comprising a strip of stainless steel doubled on itself at the bottom at 20 and extending up to form a backing plate 22 and a clamping plate 24. The plate 22 has a turned over lip 26 at its upper end containing a plurality of apertures 28, through any desired two of which the legs of the loop [8 may be threaded. Below the holes 28 the legs are continued down as indicated at 30 toward the bottom of the clamp. It will be apparent that pressing the sides of the clamp together will grip the lower portions of the extensions 39 and this grip, combined with the guidance of the lip 2%, will hold the loop proper It in any desired condition of adjustment. And this holding is substantially rigid up to the holes 28 leaving the flexibility of the projecting portion dependent on the characteristics of the filament employed.

The plug 32 is a friction fit in the upper end of the barrel l9 and has an axial opening 3 shaped to receive the clamp, with clearance between the clamp and the hole except for the abutments at the top of the plug. Since the opening of the leaves 24 and 22 to receive the extension 53 will cause the clamp to have a tapered formation, thrusting the clamp into the plug will press thedeaves together and tighten them to grip the extensions 36, and the subsequent insertion of the plug in the end of the barrel constitutes the loop, plug and barrel a unitary assembly which can conveniently be held in the hand of the user as a tool of suitable ize with which to engage a foreign object lodged in the eye or on the eyelid and remove it.

The space below the plug, and the space in the can It above the loop, afford convenient storage -ply of'aseptic padding 4%.

spaces for accessory equipment. I have illustrated a capsule comprising a lower portion 38 and a cap' ill telescoped over the body 38, filled with the medicament 42, which may be ointment or a liquid. Above the capsule I have indicated a small roll of'one-ouarter-inch gauze 44 and a small sup- Ordinarily, removal of. the plug .permits easy access to the contents of the barrel by inverting the barrel and jarring it.

Butthe body 38 of the capsule also carries an apertured lug 59 so that a user who prefers may attach-a short lengthof filament 52 to the lug and insert the parts with the filament extending up close to the plug as indicated at 54, so that the contents of the barrel can be lifted out by pulling on the filament. The capsule is of small enough diameter so {that the user can conveniently carry some additional pieces of filament wound around the capsule at 54 for replacing the loop I8, either because it has become soiled or because the particular task calls for a softer or a stiffer bit of filament. Additional aseptic padding can be stored at 56 in the top of the cap.

Men who work on railroad trains or in or around railroad yards frequently get particles of soot lodged in the eye. The absence of an aseptic and conveniently available tool for removing such objects not only causes a good deal of lost time, but not infrequently results in infections when a match stem wrapped in a handkerchief that is none too clean, or some other crudely improvised equipment, is used. A kit according to the invention is very convenient to carry and is immediately available for either simple or relatively difiicult first aid operations on the eye.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use under various conditions of service by employing one or more of the novel features disclosed or equivalents thereof. It will, for instance, be obvious that the clamp might hold a piece of absorbent cotton or of gauze, either in place of or as a supplement to the loop l8. As at present advised with respect to the apparent scope of my invention, I desire to claim the following subject matter:

1. A kit comprising, in combination: a barrel having one end closed and the other open; a detachable cap for the open end of said barrel; a plug in the end of said barrel held in place by friction; a filament holder in said plug; and a filament loop held by and projecting from the upper end of said holder; said holder comprising a piece of sheet metal folded to define clamping arms diverging slightly, with the fold functioning as a hinge; one of said arms projecting beyond the other; said projecting arm having a portion bent over across the opening between said arms; said bent-over portion having a plurality of spaced guide holes; said filament having a bight projecting above said holder and legs threaded through selected guide holes; the ends of said legs being clamped between said arms; said plug having an opening shaped to receive said holder; the Walls of said opening engaging said arms -to orushthem togethen-and clam said filamentends."

2. A filament holder comprising a piece of sheet metal folded to define diverging clamping arms with the fold functioning as a hinge; one of flfiaid arms projecting beyond the other; said projecting arm having a portion bent over -aorossthe opening between said arms; said hentvoyer p01;- tion having a plurality of spaced guide holes; said filament having a bight projectingabove-said holder and legs threaded through said guide holes; the ends ofasaid-xlegs lzbeingraclaimped-dee .tweensaidamna i .3. Afilament holder eomprising= a-.-piece.- of sheet metal folded- :toadefine; dimming clamping arms wi h the :foldzfuneti ningas a hingepone of said arms projectin eyond the tether;.sa d:' pr i ing :arm;-havingza portion bent overacross the opening between saidarms; said :benteover. portionfilled/l ng:v .a-plurality of spaced j guide *holes; Said ifilament having :;a :bight lprojecting above said holder and legs threaded- :throug-h .said guide holes; the endSIiOf saidvlegs -Ybeing-clamped-between-said arms yiand a support having anopening shaped to receive said holder; the walls of said opening engaging said arms to crush them together and clamp said filament ends.

4. An emergency kit for removing foreign objects from the eye comprising, in combination: a barrel; a removable plug in the end of said barrel; a filament holder on said plug; and a filament loop held by and projecting out of the upper end of said holder; said filament holder being held op rative d n ie eaeemen ev h s d vfilament by wedg-ing it into said plug-ysaid holder being removably inserted in said plug whereby, {with said plug remaining undisturbed in said bar- ;r el,-;11emova1 of said holder permits adjustment or replacement of said loop.

WILLIAM F. ROSENBERG.

"REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: .1

--UNITED *STATES PATENTS Num e L 7 were K ".Date

772,177 Ramus Oct.e,l,1,19;04 1,721,215 Ji y :16, Q4 1,7 6,55 Qlms ead Feb. 8 1*.) 1: 2,276,766 Dewitt =M%r. 17, 1952 

